Russia has released former US Marine Robert Gilman, who was jailed in 2022 and was reportedly in extremely poor health before his release.
Gilman was freed “from detention for humanitarian reasons” and was travelling on a US government plane to Washington, DC, on Tuesday, according to Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey said Gilman had been “essentially catatonic” and was suffering from a severe case of pneumonia. This was before his release. The senator said Gilman’s current condition remained unclear.
Gilman was 28 when he was arrested in Russia after allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk aboard a train travelling to Moscow. He was subsequently jailed in 2022.
Markey said Gilman had been diagnosed about 50 days ago with dissociative stupor. A condition in which a person can become unresponsive and unable to interact or eat.
“Approximately 50 days ago, Robert was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor – a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat,” Markey said.
Reports indicate that Gilman received treatment from several doctors during his journey back to the United States. A US official cited by Reuters said the former Marine “seems to be in good shape”. His family is waiting for him to arrive at a military hospital in Texas, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Gilman’s release has also been welcomed by his family, who credited US President Donald Trump with intervening in the case.
“I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother’s life,” Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, said in a statement.
“There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action.”
The circumstances surrounding Gilman’s release and the precise details of his current medical condition have not been fully disclosed.
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